SENIOR MOMENT: Princeton University softball player Sarah McGowan gets ready to swing at a pitch in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, senior infielder McGowan ended her Princeton career on a high note, helping the Tigers beat Cornell 3-1 in the season finale. The win gave Princeton a final record of 18-24 overall and 10-9 Ivy League. The Tigers ended the spring taking second in the Ivy South division, trailing Penn, 22-18 overall, 13-7 Ivy. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

It was a do-or-die situation for the Princeton University softball team last weekend and they were thrilled to be in that position.

Playing a four-game set at Cornell, Princeton came into the action with an 8-7 Ivy League record, alive in the race for the Ivy South title as it trailed leader Penn by a game and a half.

“I think they were excited for the opportunity; this team has never had the chance to be playing for something on the final day of the season,” said Princeton head coach Lisa Van Ackeren.

“They were ready to do their best to make it last as long as possible, everyone was psyched to do whatever they could. We prepared well all year and we had some really productive practices last week.”

In Saturday’s doubleheader, Princeton took the opener 6-3 and led 7-4 in the nightcap before falling 10-7.

“We got off to a nice start in the first game,” said Van Ackeren. “We had it in game two but we couldn’t get it done in the circle.”

On Sunday, Princeton dropped the opener 7-5 before ending the spring on a high note with a 3-1 win in the finale.

“The kids bounced back really well on Sunday,” said Van Ackeren. “The offense stepped up; we had good run production all weekend.”

While Princeton knew it had been officially eliminated from the Ivy South race by its loss in the opener, the team’s seniors were determined to make the most of their final game.

“It was senior leadership; when seniors are that emotional, the team will fall in line,” said Van Ackeren, whose Class of 2015 includes Rachel Rendina, Alyssa Schmidt, Cara Worden, Meredith Brown, Sarah McGowan, and Libby Crowe.

“We had a class of six and five started. The sixth (Crowe) was hurt but was the first base coach for an inning. Brown started at pitcher; she has been dealing with some injuries. She threw six shutout innings, fighting to do her best. Rendina, Schmidt, and Worden did what they do on the field. Sarah McGowan did well at third. It is hard to hold Cornell to one run. They passed the torch.”

In Van Ackeren’s view, the seniors have made a positive impact on the program.

“The seniors were excited; they thought about all the things we have been through to get to this point,” said Van Ackeren.

“They are an eclectic group, they have strong personalities. They leave the program better than they found it and that is the legacy you want to have.”

While Princeton had hoped to have a better record than its final mark of 18-24 overall and 10-9 Ivy League, Van Ackeren believes that the team’s younger players gained some valuable experience this spring that will help their resolve going forward.

“There were a lot of lessons to learn; we were in a lot of close games in the league,” said Van Ackeren.

“Those one-run losses teach us how to win. It is a programmatic challenge for us to improve so that those close games go our way. I think the returners will come back with a bad taste in their mouths from those close losses and will work even harder. There has been a cultural shift in the program in the last few years where the players are embracing hard work and embracing a blue collar attitude to do whatever it takes to win.”